Thursday, January 7

Sanity Savers III: Loyalty programs

If you're going to buy something anyway, why not be rewarded for it?

That's the logic behind loyalty programs. These can take many forms, and some even cost money to belong to.

Once upon a time, Lamonts (anyone remember that store?) had a great loyalty program for bras and underwear. You got a card with several boxes in two rows: one for bras, one for panties. Once you filled up a row, you got a free pair. I think JC Penney had something similar.

Movie chains have taken up the loyalty program with fervor. Of course, this is only a good deal if you are willing to pay box office prices. Many frugal people aren't.

If you budget for the tickets, though, this is a nice little kick-back system. You work your way up the points chain (each ticket is worth 2 points, max of 4 points a visit) and receive concessions and, ultimately, a free movie ticket.

The concessions are pretty much always a "small" -- whether you're talking drinks or popcorn. On the other hand, you can get another size, so long as you pay the difference in cost between the two. There are also periodic special offers that print up with your ticket, such as $1 hot dogs or $2 candy.

Regal Cinemas has a similar program, but offer extra points for specific movies, usually for a one-week period. Unlike AMC, Regal gives points for concessions purchases. In addition, on certain days of the week, program members get cheap popcorn or soda.

Many stores have similar incentives to get repeat business. Customers are given a punch card to fill up for a free item (Auntie Anne's) or a discount on the next purchase (Hot Topic). Most of these are free, so it's really a no-brainer.

On the other hand, some loyalty programs cost money to join. That seems pretty obvious too: Why would you want to spend money to save it? In some cases, though, the benefits outweigh the initial cost.

For example, Tim and I have a membership to The Body Shop's program. It costs $10 a year and gives us 10 percent off our purchases. That's about $1.50-2 off each item we buy for Tim's skin. By the time we buy seven items, we've already saved more than we paid.

In addition, we get $10 off one item in my birthday month. (The employees argue that this more or less zeroes out the annual fee.) We also get rewards points for our purchases. Each $20 purchase is one point, $50 is two. After four points, we get $15 off any one item. After eight, it's $25 off. Then the system resets back to zero.

Between the freebies and the discount -- which applies even on sale items -- we have saved a lot of money in the last two and a half years. That said, the casual shopper probably wouldn't find much value in the program.

In fact, the average shopper probably needs to be careful about loyalty programs. They can be a great way to save some money. But they can also lead you to spend more than you normally would.

Businesses aren't creating loyalty programs out of the goodness of their hearts; they're doing it to keep customers coming back and, hopefully, spending more money. How do they do this? Well, they don't have to do a lot of work. Most people are so eager to save money that they'll happily buy more to save more.

But there's another method. Businesses will often set point levels or freebies at a threshold that is not easy to obtain. Every year, Clinique offers a free gift with $30 purchase. But you'll mainly find items in the $12-25 category. But if you buy a $20ish item, it seems silly not to spend a couple more and get the free gift -- so you spend more.

It's a completely irrational logic, I know; yet it works. The Body Shop does it, too. Most of its products are $20 or less. Since members get 10 percent off, it's really $18 or less. But, to get a point for the transaction, a program member has to get a second item. And there are very few items that are under $10.

So, best case scenario, you've spent $27 ($20 - 10% and $10 - 10%) to get credit for a $20 transaction. And, chances are, you didn't really need it. You just grabbed some impulse item near the cash register to make up the difference. It's pretty crafty, you have to admit.

I guess the point here is that loyalty programs can be handy. They can also be dangerous. The trick is to never buy more than you intended. Know what the program guidelines are and do the math ahead of time to see where you come in, price-wise. That way, you're prepared and not just dashing around the store to find something under $5.

It's sort of like going grocery shopping: Plan out purchases ahead of time, and stick to the list.

What do you think of loyalty programs? Any favorites? Any bad experiences? Have you ever gotten caught up in the rush and overspent?

4 Comments:

I used to live in Korea and *everywhere* has a loyalty card there. The grocery store, the hair cutter, any restaurant or cafe (no matter how small), ice cream and coffeeshops, department stores and boutiques -- you name it, there's a loyalty card.

It just got too annoying carrying the cards around. If it's somewhere you go all the time, then it's worth it but I hate when a one-time place gives you a punch card. Seems like a waste of paper.

The other great thing about Regal's program is that they allow you to use the card on discounted tickets. For example, Peanut and I buy our Regal movie tickets from Costco ($15.49/pair as opposed to $12.50/single at the box office!). When we use the tickets at the box office, however, I can use my rewards card and get credited that $15.49, since their points system is based on dollars spent. I just got a free small soda last weekend!

The only other loyalty card I use with any, well, loyalty is for Duane Reade, a regional drug store here. Everything but prescriptions and tobacco gives you points and when you get 50 or 100 points you get a $5 off coupon. The card also gives significant discounts ($1 or more) that can pair with coupons for personal hygiene products I'd be buying anyway. I like this Sanity Savers series!

Hey there ... my first time visiting your site! Keep up the good work ...

Despite being a frugal person, I avoid most "loyalty" programs, as, here in Australia at least, I see them as an invasion of privacy. I don't mind punch card-type schemes (buy nine, get one free, etc.) but most loyalty programs require members to fill in forms, give away lots of personal information, be spammed or junk-mailed incessantly ... and presumably they store all your info (personal information plus purchases) in a database. I am really uncomfortable about the idea that businesses might be keeping all manner of information about me and my habits in databases ... so prefer to eschew them, retain my privacy ... and miss out on the discounts.

Post a Comment

Links to this post:

About Me

My husband and I both have chronic health problems that have put us in debt, both because of doctor bills and from a reduced ability to work. We've moved to Phoenix, which has helped some of my husband's conditions. But it will be awhile before we can truly be out of debt.

I write this blog because not everyone frivolously consumed his way into debt. Not everyone can be, as I like to say, the Martha Stewart of frugality.

I try to use my blog to explore frugality in an imperfect world, because I think that's a lot more realistic. Even people without chronic health problems can have life overrun their best frugal intentions.